Back from Extinction! The T-Rex Reigns Supreme at Strongman Classic

Evan Singleton stormed to victory in dramatic fashion last night, putting behind him the injury problems he suffered at World’s Strongest Man. Closing out a 1.5-point win over South Africa’s Jaco Schoonwinkel, he appeared to have completely healed from the biceps tear that forced his withdrawal from the group stages in Sacramento. In front of a sell-out Albert Hall crowd, England’s Paddy Haynes continued his marvellous run of form to claim his second Giants Live podium, just a point adrift of Jaco.

The 2025 season seems to be providing no shortage of surprise results and once again, like at World’s Strongest Man, the pre-event favourites could only look on as their winning chances slipped further away. After dominating last season, many had expected defending champion Mitchell Hooper to be on the rebound and looking to re-assert himself as the sport’s apex athlete. But the 2023 WSM winner could finish no better than equal 7^th and admitted that he was not at his best on the night.

Newly crowned World’s Strongest Man, Rayno Nel, struggled in the opening event, but recovered gamely and battled on to take 4^th overall, two points clear of the American duo of Trey Mitchell and Lucas Hatton. Some shoulder pain in the Log Medley, as well as a points deduction in the Frame Carry for sliding his implement across the line, cost him several places, and he was unable to mount a serious challenge to the top three. It brought to an abrupt end his 7-contest winning streak, but there were many moments of brilliance from Africa’s first WSM winner, not least his incredible pace in the Frame Carry, and he underlined his massive talent in no uncertain terms.

It was South Africa’s other athlete, Jaco Schoonwinkel – the World’s Strongest Farmer – who was to provide his nation’s best result. The 2023 WSM finalist had to withdraw mid-show at his last Giants performance at the World Tour Finals in October but was very much back to his best in London. A 3^rd place finish in the Hercules Hold was backed up by a runner-up spot in the Frame Carry and a respectable equal 5^th showing in the Axle Deadlift. In the final pairing of the Atlas Stones his complete run of 24.73 seconds was too much for Singleton and earned him 3^rd in the event and saw him massively reduce his points deficit to the American.

Trey Mitchell was to suffer mixed fortunes and but for a surprising inability to move the Frame Carry a single centimetre, would surely have made the podium. After taking second in the Log Medley behind overhead monster, Lucas Hatton, the big Texan placed 8^th in the Hercules Hold which seemed to fatigue his grip going into the Frame Carry. An event win in the Axle Deadlift brought him back up the rankings, but the points deficit was too much to recover. America’s Strongest Man, Lucas Hatton, making his Giants debut, fared similarly and dropped points in the grip events after making the five logs of the Medley look like twigs!

Former Europe’s Strongest Man, Pavlo Kordiyaka, struggled after a good a start in the Log Medley and finished 11^th overall. Last place in the Hercules Hold effectively ended his chances of a podium and he appeared to struggle further with his grip in the Frame Carry. Poland’s Terminator, Mateusz Kieliszkowski, also started well, taking 3^rd in the Log Medley, but his challenge unravelled in the Axle Deadlift – his perennial weakness – and 9^th was where he would end up after five events.

Spenser Remick appeared to tear his biceps in the closing stages of the Frame Carry and would take no further part in the contest. Fellow American Nick Guardione, making his Giants debut, placed a respectable equal 7^th, tied on points with Hooper. After three events the 2024 Official Strongman Games champion was sitting 3^rd but was to give up ground in the Axle Deadlift and Castle Stones and move steadily down the leaderboard.

England’s duo of Paddy Haynes and Ben Glasscock represented the new generation of domestic talent and received massive support from the crowd. Haynes had plenty of points to recover after the Log Medley and managed 4^th in the Hercules Hold. His grip prowess helped him to 3^rd, in the Frame Carry and his event results just kept getting better and better! Second place in the Axle Deadlift was followed by a stunning victory in the Castle Stones, earning him a second Giants Live podium following his runner-up performance at Europe’s Strongest Man. Glasscock’s best event result also came in the Stones, where he completed all five implements to take 5^th.

The T-Rex, in contrast to his pre-event rivals, was very much on his ‘A’ game! Back-to-back wins in the Hercules Hold and Frame Carry were bookended by a 4^th place in the Log Medley and 3^rd in the Axle Deadlift. By the time the athletes began applying their tacky for the Castle Stones, he had accumulated an almost unassailable 7.5-point lead over Schoonwinkel in 2^nd.

In the final event, the former WWE star’s psych-up routine caused a self-inflicted 2-inch gash across his forehead, and he loaded his stones with blood pouring from his brow. The final stone proved too much for Evan, despite his best efforts, and with most of the other competitors completing all five, he had an anxious wait before Colin Bryce announced his win to the crowd.

With his head wound patched up and In no mood for humility, the now 7-time Giants Live winner claimed he was in World’s Strongest Man winning form and reminded the crowd of his assertion that we will one day take the sports’ biggest prize. This was Singleton’s second win at the Strongman Classic, having won here back in 2023. With the exception of his stone run, this was a truly dominant performance, and he will take huge confidence into the season’s remaining shows, especially with Mitchell Hooper’s form temporarily deserting him.

Once again, Evan has proved that he should never be written off, and at his best he can beat anybody in the world. As is so often said in such an unpredictable sport, “anything can happen in Strongman,” and perhaps the T-Rex will one-day take the WSM title. For now, after a long period of utter domination by Mitchell Hooper, Strongman seems as unpredictable as ever. Moving into the second half of the season the winners of the Strongman Open and World Tour Finals will be anyone’s guess!

The Strongman Classic will still be available to stream through www.officialstrongman.com

PLUS – Tickets are selling fast for The Strongman Classic 2026 at The Royal Albert Hall. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be there & buy now >>

Event Results

Event 1: Mirafit Log Medley

Log weights: 120kg/265lb, 140kg/309lb, 160kg/353lb, 170kg/375lb, 180kg/397lb, 60 second time limit.

Event 2: Vitakick Hercules Hold

200kg/441lb pillar in each hand.

Event 3: BadRhino Frame Carry

360kg/794lb frame, 20m carry, 60 second time limit.

Event 4: SBD Axle Deadlift for Reps

350kg/772lb axle, 60 second time limit.

Event 5: Castle Water Stones

Implements weights: 120kg/265lb, 140kg/309lb, 160kg/353lb, 180kg/397lb, 200kg/441lb, 60 second time limit.